Gun storage container



. March 11, 1947; T. L. TAYLOR- ET-AL mm STORAGE CONTAINER Filed Feb, 8, 1946 2 sheets-sheet 1 THOMAS L. TAYLOR CHAUNCEY F. BELL JR.

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T. L. TAYLOR ETAL ,417,331

GUN STORAGE CONTAINER Fi led Feb: e, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 THOMAS L. TAYLOR CHAUNCEY F. BELL JR J 4 x V OFFICE,

GUN STORAGE CONTAINER Thomas L. Taylor, Buxton, and Chauncey F. Bell. Jr.,- Baltimore, Md, assignorsto The Glenn L. Martin Company, Middle a corporation of Maryland River,

Application February 8, 1946, No. 846,312

Our invention relates more particularly to a light metal hermetically sealed container to preserve ordnance devices wherein the structural strength of the enclosed device is combined with the container to produce a rigid, long life compact storage cell.

Prior to this invention it has been customary practice to box armament for indefinite future.

use in heavy wooden boxes. One of the purposes of such boxing is to provide protection for the sun against mechanical injury during handling, transporting and storing. Another purpose is to a gun barrler'and solaims. on; soc-4c)" 2 a ainst the admission of moisture and any moisture existing in the barrier at the time of sealing may be completely removed by the insertion, prior to sealing, of a desiccant material, such as silica gel.

It is among the objects of our invention to provide a metallic container in which to preserve .and protect an article wherein full advantage is taken of the, rigidity and inherent strength of the article, such as a machine gun, to add to the resistance of the container against crushing and to provide a means of retaining the heavy grease in which the gun must be imbedded to protect .its parts against corrosion. This form of protection has proved unsatisfactory for a number of reasons.

First,-the life of such a wooden box is often times very limited due to the climatic conditions to which it 'is subjected: also, being susceptible to splitting open if dropped, many instances of complete loss of the covering grease have resulted rendering the gun useless upon delivery at the point where its use was desired. Second, to pre- .vent corrosion of the parts of a gun stored in the ordinary manner it is necessary that the gun be imbedded in a thick covering of grease which involves laborious cleaning before use. The life of such a wooden container is very limited due to its high susceptibility to decay when subjected to certain climatic conditions, as well as during handling, which alone presents a serious problem of retaining the grease around the gun when it issubjected to adverse conditions such as storage for long periods, extreme variations in temperature and humidity. and rough handling. Third, the customary container known to the art provides only limited protection against entrance of various plant life in the form of fungus growths. Such fungus growths cause severe corrosion of the metal gun parts and are dimcult to remove if once allowed to become established.

therein contributes its inherent structural strength to the strength of the enveloping barrier material. In its sealed-in condition the oblost is protected against deterioration due to the admission of moisture, fungi, dust or other foreign substances over a period of time limited only by the ability of the covering material to resist corrosion. The outside seal eflected at the time of assemblage completely seals the barrier impact loads to which such an article would be subjected during its transportation and handling.

' Another object is to provide a barrier to pro- 1 tect guns, and like equipment. against deterioraq tion due to corrosion or the admission of fungi,

or other foreign matter during shipment and/or storage.

A further object is to provide a metal container for preservation of machine guns or like equipment in such condition as to be ready for instantaneous assembly. and use upon removal therefrom and wherein the container construction facilitates removal of the gun without damage to the Sun Parts.

A still further object is to provide an inexpensive light-weight metal container that facilitates the handling and conserves the space re-* quired for the storing of a heavy article such as a machine gun.

Other objects of our invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts in the diflerent views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the article 01 our invention with the side wall cut away to show an aircraft machine gun arranged and mounted for storage; v

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1:

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view or the bottom end wall, base and extension arms for supporting the machine gun;

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view of the end boss adaptedto secure the muzzle end of the machine gun;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of our invention adapted to receive a different type of machine gun; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the end boss of Figure 4 showing position of the stay plug relative to the gun barrel and coolment in the semi-dismantled condition shown. The barrier HI consists of a closed tube ll of aluminum alloy, or a like corrosion resistant material, of sufllcient length and diameter .to completely envelope the article to be stored with suflicient space allowed so that the article may be placed within the tube entirely free from direct contact with the tubular wall. The ends of the tube are provided with closures consisting of flanged discs I2 and 20 of alloy metal, similar in composition to that of the tube ll, formed to allow for a snug flt inside of the tube ends and to be welded in place to form a hermetically sealed container space inside of the barrier in. The bottom flanged disc I 2 is provided with a base plate l3 mounted thereon positioned to receive the breech portion M of the machine gun I5 spaced inwardly from the end wall formed'by said disc I2 to provide protection against mechanical injury to the gun it dropped on its end. The base plate I3 is provided with side extension arms l6 spaced I to extend upwardly from the base plate It along 4 of silica gel be used in a barrier of this size where the period oi preservation is indefinite. The snug fit of the top disc 20 and the bottom disc l2 in tube i l places these parts in position to be easily welded to the ends of the tube so as to form the end walls of the barrier hermetically sealed in place. The then hermetically sealed condi-- v tion of the barrier protects the stored machine.

gun against deterioration due to corrosion. accumulation of fungus growth or admission of any other foreign matter over a protracted period of v I time during which the machine gun is' in storage.

each side of the breech portion 14 of the gun (Fig. 3). The extension arms ii are securely" bolted to the machine gun by a bolt 21. which passes through the aft trunnion 28 and secures the gun 15 against undesired'movement. A midis provided by. the

section support for the 81m flanged disc I! adapted to be positioned midvway between the top and bottom of barrier'ifl withthe outside periphery of the flange snugly fitted against the inside wall of tube H so as toprovide support against crushing loads imposed on the mid-section of the tube and allow for full utilization of the structural strength in-' herent in the gun to add rigidity to the unit. Disc I1 is formed with a collar l8 adapted to encircle the machine gun cooling jacket l9 and secure the flange '1 in place. The top closure consists of a flanged metal disc 20 formed to es'- tablish a snug fit inside one end of tube Ii and form a hermetically sealed joint therewith when welded in place. Mounted on disc 20, with flxed relation to the muzzle end of cooling Jacket i9 which encases the barrel 2| of the machine gun, is a boss 22. Boss 22 is provided with one or more apertures 23 positioned for alignment with the cooling vents 24 (Figs. 4 and 6) in the gun barrel cooling jacket l9 to receive a stay plug 25 held in place by a band 26 formed with a snap-on flt encircling the end of boss 22. In this manner 'the muzzle of the gun barrel 2|. (Fig. 4) is secured in position spaced inwardly from the top end well formed by disc 20. This assemblage allows suflicient space between t the gun i5 and the sidewall oi the tube H (Fig.

2) for the insertion of a desiccant material 29,

The desiccant material 29 removes any free mbisture existing in the air within the barrier at the time of sealing that would be inducive to corrosion of the gun.- A machine gun so stored is 7 rier of the type described to various'tests representing fleld conditions with satisfactory results. The barrier described is'extremely light in weight,

weighing. approximately nineteen pounds as com- 'pared with the forty-two pound wooden container previously used, thereby making it possible to eflect a considerable saving in transportation costs as well as permit the transportation of a greater number of units with'the same load carrying capacity. Thlsalone is a very important factor inview of the fact that such equipment is usually transported by air and at times when there is a great demand for carrying capacity.

In Figure 5 is shown a modified form of barrier used to store .50 caliber' machine guns of the r heavy barrel flexible type which is characterized by the feature that the breech and cooling pertions may be removed from the barrel during storage. vIn this barrier the flanged mid-section -disc 30 is apertured-to receive both the barrel 3'5, I and the breech portion 39 of a gun spaced rela- Mountedl on disc 30 is a longitudinal channeled brace 32*;

arranged to extend parallel to barrel 33 between" v.

the center disc and the barrel muzzle receiv-' ing boss 34 aflixed to a flanged top end disc 44;.

I with the muzzle oi the gun barrel 33 clamped in tive to the side wall of the tube H.

place by clamp '35. The inner wall of the flanged bottom disc 36 has rigidly aflixed thereto a barrel receiving socket 31 aligned relative to the muzzle receiving boss 34 to receive the breech end of barrel 83. Extending inwardly from bottom disc 36, and rigidly aiflxed thereto, are extension arms 38 spaced to receive the breech portion 39 of the such as silica gel, which is characterized by having the property of absorbing moisture to an extent suflicient to absorb any free moisture present in the barrier after sealing. The minimum amount 01' silica gel required is ordinarily determined irom the. standard practice formula developed for the use of this chemical, namely, that the quantity of silica gel in pounds=0.5xweight of organic material present +.08 volume of container in cubic feet. Application of this formula to the aforedescribed use wherein the container measures 7% inches in diameter and 57 inches in length and has a volume content of 1.57 cubic feet and practically no organic material would indicate the use of approximately one half pound of silica gel. However, due to practical experience gained from the use of desiccant materials it is suggested that approximately two pounds 'gun therebetween. Theextension arms 38 are of suflicient length and are formed with apertured ends adapted for securing to the art trunnion 40 of the gun by bolt ll or a similar securing means. Such securing means is spaced inwardly from the inner surface of bottom disc 38, which constitutes an end wall of the barrier ill, a suf- 'fic'ient distance so that when the gun is placed in position for storing that the breech portion 39 is held free of the end wall. The mid-section 42 of the breech of the gun is secured in aligned relation to the barrel 33 by securing clips 43 attached to mid-section disc 30. This form of assemblage greatly reduces the over all length of the barrier while still providing rigid securing of the parts so as to utilize their structural strength against compressive and torsional loads which may be impressed upon a container during transportation or storage. The bottom disc 36 and top disc 44 provide hermetically sealed ends for the barrier when welded in place.

The preferred method of assembly of a gun and barrier according to our invention is to insert the gun breech l4 (Fig. 1) between extension arms I6 with the breech resting on base plate l3 to be securely bolted in place with bolt 21 inserted through apertures in the arms and trunsupport the muzzle in spaced relation to the first nion 28, the mid-section disc I! is then mounted tightened so as to secure the disc I! against.

axial movement; the muzzle of the gun barrel 2i and cooling 'jacket l9 are inserted into boss 22 attached to disc and disc 2|] rotated in either direction until its outer rim. is in alignment with the outer rims of the bottom disc l2 and midsection disc I! in which position the aperture 23 in boss 22 will align with cooling vent 24 in the cooling jacket l9, stay plug 25 is inserted in said vent 24 through aperture 23 in boss 22 and secured with band 26 placed around the end of boss 22; a, predetermined quantity of desiccant material 29 is placed adjacent mid-section disc l1 and secured in place; the entire assemblage is then inserted into tube It and the ends of tube H are welded to the bottom and top discs 52 and 2|] respectively to hermetically seal the barrier IE against admission of moisture, dust or fungi. The method of assembling a gun and a barrier of the modified form last described is similar except that the gun barrel 33 (Fig. 5) being separable from the breech 39 is first fitted into socket 31, along side of the gun breech 39, and the mid-section disc 30, assembled with the channeled brace 32, is dropped over the muzzle of barrel 33 and the mid-section 42 of the breech. Mid-section disc 30 is secured in position with named supporting disc, a second flanged disc forming the other end wall of the tube provided with a base plate spaced inwardly from the interior wall thereof and having securing means to embrace the breech portion of a machine gun whereby the gun is suspended within the barrier out of contact with the tube and end walls.

2. A machine gun barrier comprising a metallic tube, a supporting disc having an outside diameter corresponding to the inside diameter of the tube, and being formed with an aperture to receive the barrel of a machine gun and support the same at a point remote from the muzzle end thereof, a flanged disc forming one end wall of the tube provided with a muzzle receiving boss to support the muzzle in spaced relation to -the said first named supporting disc, a second flanged disc forming the other end wall of the tube provided with a base plate spaced inwardly from the interior wall thereof, spaced supporting arms aflixed to said base and provided with apertured endsaligned to embrace in bolted position the breech portion of a machine gun whereby the gun is suspended within the barrier out of contact with the walls of the tube and end walls.

3. A machine gun barrier comprising a metallic tube, a supporting disc having an outside diameter corresponding to the inside diameter of the tube, and being formed with an aperture to receive the barrel of a machine gun and support the same at a point remote from the muzzle end thereof, a flanged disc forming one end wall clips 43 bearing against each side of the gun midsection 42. The muzzle of barrel 33 is secured in the muzzle boss 34 with lamp 35. The modifled form of barrier requires approximately the same quantity of desiccant material 29 as it measures nine inches in diameter by 46 inches in length and has a volume content of 1.71 cubic feet.

It will be observed that according to our invention the gun is suspended within the container at three spaced points, namely, at each end and at the middle and that the ends of the gun are spaced from the ends of the container. This insures that concentrated impact shocks such as would deform the metal of the containerare not directly transmitted to the gun.

Removal of the gun assembly from the barrier may be readily accomplished after cutting away one end of the barrier and releasing the gun from its securing means. Cut lines 45 are provided on the outside of tube It (Figs. 1 and 53 to facilitate the operation of removal.

Although our invention ha been shown and described in considerable detail it will be appreciated'that certain changes, alterations, modifications and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A machine gun barrier comprising a metallic tube, a supporting disc having an outside diameter corresponding to the inside diameter of the tube, and being formed with an aperture to receive the barrel of a machine gun and support the same at a point remote from the muzzle end thereof, a flanged disc forming one end wall of the tube provided with a muzzle receiving boss to of the tube provided with a muzzle receiving boss to support the muzzle in spaced relation to the disc, a channeled brace extending between the first named supporting disc and said muzzle receiving boss,'a second flanged disc forming the other end wall of the tube provided with a barrel receiving socket to receive the breech end of the barrel of a machine gun and supporting arms extending inwardly from the interior wall of said second flanged disc spaced to embrace the breech of a machine gun, the ends of said arms being formed with apertures aligned with an aperture in said breech, a bolt for insertion through said aligned apertures whereby the gun is suspended within the barrier out of contact with the tube and end walls.

4. A moisture-proof container for storing guns and like articles comprising a metallic tube having end members adapted to be afiixed to the ends thereof and sealed in place so as to hermetically seal said tube, each of said end members being provided with a socket and securing means adapted to receive and secure the respective ends of a gun, or like article, spaced from the circular wall of said tube, a center baflie disc positioned inside of said tube and spaced substantially midway between the ends, said center baflie disc being provided with an aperture to receive the intermediate portion of a gun, or like article, and securing means which secure the article in place. 5. A gun barrier comprising a metal tube a flanged disc secured at each end of the tube to form an end closure therefor, one disc having a tubular boss to embrace and hold the muzzle of the gun and the other disc having spaced apertured brackets to embrace and hold the breech portion of the gun whereby the gun is suspended within the container spaced from the side and end walls thereof.

THOMAS L. TAYLOR. CHAUNCEY F. BELL, JR. 

